Power supply system

ABSTRACT

A power supply system includes a main power regulator, standby power regulator and automatic electronic switch. The main power regulator having a first rectifier outputs a first voltage signal to provide the main power. The standby power regulator having a second rectifier outputs a standby voltage signal to provide the standby power. The automatic electronic switch receives the standby voltage signal in response to a PSON (Power Supply ON) signal and outputs a second voltage signal to alternatively provide the main power.

[0001] This application incorporates by reference of Taiwan application Serial No. 90213347, Filed Aug. 6, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates in general to a power supply system, and more particularly to a power supply system having a standby power.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Formerly, there is only one main power regulator in the power supply and the power supply therefore has to be switched on for supplying power to the computer over a long period of time. Since Intel develops the standard ATX, which is the modern-day shape and layout of PC motherboards, in 1995, the power supply of the ATX motherboard requires two power regulators, that is, adding a standby power regulator.

[0006] The traditional power supply provides one output for the main power and the other output for the standby power. The main power circuit requires a switching regulator for outputting DC (Direct Current) power at +12V, +5V, and +3.3V while the standby power circuit requires another switching regulator for outputting DC power at +5V during power-off.

[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a traditional power supply for generating the power required by the memory system is illustrated. Suspend-to-RAM (STR) occurs when a system detects that most of the applications or system components are under silent operation and enters a low-power state. While in the low power (STR) state, memory system 101 remains powered to retain the system information while most other components turn off to conserve energy. The traditional power supply with standard ATX includes a main power regulator 10 and a standby power regulator 11. When the motherboard supports STR, either the main power regulator 10 or the standby power regulator 11 generates power for the memory system 101. In the normal state, the MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) switch 103 receives switch signal SW1 and becomes open. The main power regulator 10 then provides the memory system 101 with the main power MP. In the STR state, the MOS switch 105 receives switch signal SW2 and becomes open. The standby power regulator 11 then provides the memory system 101 with the main power SP. The power supply stops providing any power while the computer shuts down.

[0008] Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a traditional power supply system with standard ATX is shown. The alternating current source 201 outputs alternating current power signal AC to the main power regulator 10 and the standby power regulator 11. The main power regulator 10 includes switching controller 203, MOS switch 205, multiple transformer 207, +12V rectifier 208, +5V rectifier 209 and +3.3V rectifier 210. The +12V rectifier 208, +5V rectifier 209 and +3.3V rectifier 210 individually output the voltage signal Out12V, Out5V, and Out3.3V for providing power at +12V, +5V, and +3.3V. The standby power regulator 11 includes switching controller 213, MOS switch 215, transformer 217, +5V rectifier 219. The +5VBS rectifier 219 outputs the standby voltage signal Out5VSB for providing the standby power at +5V. The voltage signal Out5V outputted by the +5V rectifier 209 for the main power regulator 10 has the same electronic potential with the standby voltage signal Out5VBS outputted by the +5VBS rectifier 219 for the standby power regulator 11. However, the +5V rectifier 209 and +5VBS rectifier 219 belong to different power regulators without electrical connection and therefore it leads to a waste and an unsteady effect for the power regulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a power supply system with a simplified structure for the regulators. It reduces the cost and minimizes the whole volume under compatibility and even more reliable and stable for power regulation.

[0010] The invention achieves the above-identified objects by providing a power supply system applied to a computer for generating a main power and a standby power. The power supply system includes a main power regulator, standby power regulator, and automatic electronic switch. The main power regulator having a first rectifier outputs a first voltage signal to provide the main power. The standby power regulator having a second rectifier outputs a standby voltage signal to provide the standby power. The automatic electronic switch receives the standby voltage signal in response to a PSON (Power Supply ON) signal and outputs a second voltage signal to alternatively provide the main power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 (Prior Art) illustrates a block diagram of a traditional power supply for generating the power required by the memory system;

[0013]FIG. 2 (Prior Art) shows a block diagram of a traditional power supply system with standard ATX;

[0014]FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a power supply system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] The main design of the invention is to simplify the main power regulator by removing a rectifier and combine the rectifiers of the main power regulator and the standby power regulator into a rectifying circuit.

[0016] Referring first to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a power supply system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The power supply system applied to a computer is for generating a main power and a standby power. The power supply system includes a main power regulator 30, standby power regulator 31 and automatic electronic switch 321. The main power regulator 30 having a first rectifier 308 outputs a first voltage signal Out12V at +12V to provide the main power. The standby power regulator 31 having a second rectifier 310 outputs a standby voltage signal Out5VSB at +5V to provide the standby power. The automatic electronic switch 321 is controlled by a PSON (Power Supply ON) signal from a motherboard 323. In response a PSON signal, the automatic electronic switch 321 outputs a second voltage signal Out5V at +5V to alternatively provide the main power. As such, the second voltage signal Out5V is the standby voltage signal Out5VBS received from the standby power regulator 31 since the standby voltage signal Out5VBS and the second voltage signal Out5V are identical in electronic potential of +5V.

[0017] The main power regulator 30 further includes a first switching controller 303, first transformer 307 and first electronic switch 305. The first transformer 307 is electrically coupled with the first rectifier 308. The first electronic switch 305 is controlled by the first switching controller 303 and selectively outputs an alternating current signal AC to the first transformer 307. In addition, the main power regulator 30 further includes a third rectifier 310 for outputting a third voltage signal Out3.3V at 3.3V. The first electronic switch 305 is on for generating and outputting direct current by the main power regulator 30.

[0018] The standby power regulator 31 further includes a second switching controller 313, a second transformer 317 and a second electronic switch 315. The second transformer 317 is electrically coupled with the second rectifier 319. The second electronic switch 315 is controlled by the second switching controller 313 and selectively outputs the alternating current signal AC to the second transformer 317. The electronic switch 315 is on for generating and outputting direct current by the standby power regulator 31.

[0019] More explicitly, when the power supply system proceeds to provide DC power at +12V, the switching controller 303 completes signal switching and then sends a switch signal to the electronic switch 305. The electronic switch 305 is therefore open for inputting the alternating current signal AC to the first transformer 307. After the alternating current signal AC is transformed by the first transformer 307 and rectified by the first rectifier 308, the rectifier 308 outputs the first voltage signal Out12V at +12V for providing DC power at +12V When the power supply system proceeds to provide DC power at +5V, the motherboard 323 sends a PSON signal to the automatic electronic switch 321. The automatic electronic switch 321 receives the PSON signal and becomes on for receiving the standby voltage signal Out5VBS from the standby power regulator 31. The automatic electronic switch 321 then outputs the standby voltage signal Out5VBS to be the second voltage signal Out5V at +5V. Since the standby power regulator 31 is in the standby state after turning on the computer, the standby power is able to be sent and passes through the electronic switch 315, the transformer 317, second rectifier 319. Once the automatic electronic switch 321 is on, it becomes an alternative output for a main power.

[0020] According to the construction of the invention, there could be more rectifiers added in the main power regulator 30 to provide power in different electronic potentials. As shown in FIG. 3, the main power regulator 30 includes the first switching controller 303, first transformer 307, first rectifier 308 as well as first electronic switch 305 and further includes a third rectifier 310. The first rectifier 308 and third rectifier 310 output a first voltage signal Out12V at +12V and a third voltage signal Out3.3V at 3.3V respectively to provide the DC power at +12V and +3.3V. The standby power regulator 31 includes a second switching controller 313, second electronic switch 315, second transformer 317, second rectifier 319 and automatic electronic switch 321. The second rectifier 319 outputs the standby voltage signal Out5VBS to provide either the standby power at +5V or the main power at +5V through the automatic electronic switch 321.

[0021] As compared with the structure of the traditional power supply system, the +5V rectifier 209 is removed from the main power regulator in the invention. The main power regulator is simplified by the combination of the rectifying circuits in two power regulators corresponding to the rectifier 209 and rectifier 219 and by increasing the power of the standby power regulator 31. Thus, the standby power regulator 31 can provide the main power at +5V by simply using the automatic electronic switch 321. It avoids the waste of the power regulator and improves the effect of power regulation.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, the output power of the traditional standby power regulator 11 is generally lower than that of the traditional main power regulator 10. For example, the main power regulator 10 carries 20 amperes while the standby power regulator 11 carries 0.2 to 2 amperes. As shown in FIG. 3, in order to provide a main power from the standby power regulator 11 steadily, the output power of the standby power regulator 31 of this invention has to be higher than that of the traditional power regulator 11. The output power of the standby power increases by changing the specification of the transformer 317, rectifier 319, switching controller 313 or the like. For instance, it achieves the goal to wind the transformer 317 by thicker coil or adapt durable components for the diode in the rectifier 319 and the transistor in the electronic switch 315. After increasing the output power of the standby power 31, the traditional power regulator corresponding to the rectifier 209 can be replaced by the standby power regulator 31.

[0023] Besides, the rectifier at least requires an inductance coil, two-in-one diode and capacitance while the automatic electronic switch only needs a transistor. It therefore simplifies the circuit design and reduces cost according to the invention. The whole volume of the power supply system is minimized as well. Furthermore, the power supply system of the invention is compatible with the standard ATX and even more reliable. When the motherboard supports STR, the standby power regulator enables to generate enough power for the memory. There is no need to require two switches on the motherboard to switch two power regulators but only require one automatic electronic switch for the standby power regulator.

[0024] The power supply system according to the invention has the following advantages:

[0025] 1. It simplifies the circuit design of the power regulator by removing a rectifier and only requires one automatic electronic switch.

[0026] 2. It reduces the cost since the automatic electronic switch is cheaper than the rectifier.

[0027] 3. The whole volume of the power supply system is minimized.

[0028] 4. The power supply system of the invention is compatible with the standard ATX and even more reliable and stable.

[0029] 5. There is no need to require two switches on the motherboard to switch two power regulators but only require one automatic electronic switch for the standby power regulator.

[0030] While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A power supply system applied to a computer for generating a main power and a standby power, the power supply system comprising: a main power regulator having a first rectifier for outputting a first voltage signal to provide the main power; a standby power regulator having a second rectifier for outputting a standby voltage signal to provide the standby power; and an automatic electronic switch controlled by a PSON (Power Supply ON) signal for receiving the standby voltage signal and outputting a second voltage signal to alternatively provide the main power.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the main power regulator further comprises: a first switching controller; a first transformer electrically coupled with the first rectifier; and a first electronic switch controlled by the first switching controller and selectively outputting an alternating current signal to the first transformer.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the main power regulator further comprises a third rectifier for outputting a third voltage signal.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the electronic potential of the first voltage signal, second voltage signal and third voltage signal are +12V, +5V and 3.3V individually.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the standby power regulator further comprises: a second switching controller; a second transformer electrically coupled with the second rectifier; and a second electronic switch controlled by the second switching controller and selectively outputting the alternating current signal to the second transformer.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the standby voltage signal and the second voltage signal are identical in electronic potential.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic potential of the standby voltage is +5V.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein power required by a memory of the computer is supplied by the standby power regulator.
 9. The system according to claim 2, wherein the PSON signal is output from a motherboard.
 10. A power supply system, comprising: a main power regulator for outputting a first voltage; a standby power regulator for outputting a standby voltage; and an automatic electronic switch outputting a second voltage in response to a PSON (Power Supply ON) signal, wherein the second voltage is the standby voltage from the standby power regulator.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the PSON signal is output from a motherboard.
 12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the main power regulator further comprises: a first switching controller; a first transformer electrically coupled with a first rectifier; and a first electronic switch controlled by the first switching controller and selectively outputting an alternating current to the first transformer.
 13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the main power regulator further comprises a third rectifier for outputting a third voltage.
 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the electronic potential of the first voltage, second voltage and third voltage are +12V, +5V and 3.3V individually.
 15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the standby power regulator further comprises: a second switching controller; a second transformer electrically coupled with a second rectifier; and a second electronic switch controlled by the second switching controller and selectively outputting the alternating current to the second transformer.
 16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the standby voltage and the second voltage are identical in electronic potential.
 17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic potential of the standby voltage is +5V. 